Heliograph.



T. J. MAHEB,

HELIOGRAEH. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1909.

PaJsmateol Mar. 1, 1910,

l/Vl/E/WOR HumaaJMa/zer ATTORA/E V8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. MAI-IE3, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HELIOGRAPH.

saunas.

sources in different directions, for signaling and other purposes.

One object of my invention is to provide novel details of construction for an instrument of the character specified, which will reflect light rays from the sun or an artificial source, in radial lines, toward all points of the compass, and more particularly in a horizontal plane.

A further purpose of my invention is to adapt a number of devices of the type indicated for the display of and which will attract attention to an advertisement on or near the instrument from which the light rays are reflected.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a side view of the heliograph; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, a portion being removed for exposure of other details.

In the drawings, A indicates a verticallysupported staff which is preferably secured upon a stable base, not shown.

At a suitable point on the staff A, a horizontal cross bar B is rotatably supported thereon, preferably by forming a perforation in said cross bar that receives the staff, and seating it upon a collar a, that is fixed on the staff. Above the cross bar B, a plurality of fan blades 0 are secured by their lower ends upon a collar 6 said blades being radially disposed at equal distances apart by an attachment of their adjacent lower corners upon said collar that is seated upon the upper side of the cross bar B, and loosely mounted upon the staff A. A further means for the support of'the radial fan blades C consists in the attachment of their Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. January 27, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910..

Serial No. 474,541.

upper adjacent corners upon a collar 0, that is loosely mounted upon the staff A. The fan blades are similarly curved, so as to render them concavo-convex in cross section. 1

equal number of reflectors D are arranged a and attached thereto.

The reflectors I) may be formed of polished metal or glass plates, silvered, to provide mirrors. The plates or mirrors D are similarly curved, so as to render them concave on their outer surfaces, and all are re duced in width gradually from their lower ends upwardly,'their width at said lower ends being exactly equal with the distance between respective pairs of the fan blades C at their outer vertical edges. The degree of curvature given to the plates or mirrors D, considered longitudinally, and their sloped reduction in width, adapts said plates for a junction of adjacent side edges thereof, so as to render the joinedplates hexagonal in cross section at any point throughout their height.

The structure formed by the attachment together of the mirrors or reflectors D as described, is mounted at its lower end upon the fan blades 0 and thereto secured by suitable means, and at the upper end thereof, a cap plate E is seated and secured thereon. The staff A is loosely passed upward through a central perforation in the cap plate E, and on the staff a collar (Z is secured, whereon the cap plate is seated, the projecting upper end of the staff A receiving a cap nut c, that is secured thereon in loose contact with the cap plate E.

A shield F, curved laterally into semi-circular form, is mounted upon the cross bar B, and is thereto secured, having clearance from i the fan blades C, as shown in Fig. 2, and

from one vertical edge of the shield F, a radial vane G is extended, that is supported in a vertical plane by an attachment of the lower edgethereof upon the cross bar B.

It will be seen that the curvature of the reflectors or mirrors D, their form and connection as described, produces an upwardly converged reflector, that, if rotated in either direction on the staff A, will radiate light therefrom in a myriad of rays in all directions. Further, it will be obvious that from the peculiar form given to the several mirg emcee rors D and their special association adapts the structure to reflect the rays of the sun horizontally from some portion of its surface if rotated, irrespective of the declination of the sun or the latitude of location of the instrument.

While other means may be employed for the rotation of the heliograph, that shown is preferred, and it will be seen that the radially extended vane G will direct the air into engagement with the fan blades C, which by their rotation Will rotate the mirrors.

The improvement in its present form is designed to attract attention for advertising purposes, but may, by slight changes, be adapted for service in heliographic signal- 111g.

Obviously any preferred number of concaved mirors may be mounted upon the same staff, or be arranged on a plurality of axes, and be set in motion by wind currents or other power.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A heliograph, comprising a plurality of curved mirrors, arranged for rotation around a vertical axis and adapted .tor reflection of the sun's rays in all directions.

A heliograph, comprising a reflector embodying a plurality of curved mirrors converged edgewise from one end to the other end, and all joined edgewise to produce a polygonal mirror.

of similarconca-ved mirrors, converged edgewise, and supported to rotate on a vertical stat, having their concave reflecting surfaces exposed for radiation of light rays.

at. A heliograph, comprising a stall erected on a stable support, a plurality of radially disposed fan blades rotatably mounted thereon, a. plurality of concaved reflectors polygonally aranged and mounted on the fan blades, and means for directing air currents upon the fan blades.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. MAHER.

\Vitnesses J. M. Cowman, L. O. GOLBERT.

'3. A heliograph, comprising a plurality 

